Collins crosses ditch for bigger pond

Will Johnston

For Joe Collins, it was a case of being a big fish in a small pond.

The former New Plymouth Boys’ High School student dominated junior surf club events in New Zealand before shifting to Australia a year ago at just 17.

Now 18, the move is paying off.

Collins, pictured left, sits in fourth place after three rounds of the Nutri-Grain Ironman, in his series debut.

The achievement is unheard of for someone so young in a field with some of Australia’s top athletes. He calls it the Hollywood of ironman racing.

“It’s definitely a big thing for me,” Collins said from the Gold Coast.

“I’m more surprised with how I went. I didn’t expect to be this high up, but I knew I put in the work and deserve to be here.”

On top of this success, Collins came first in the short course Coolangatta Gold event, won the Under 19 Maroochydore Classic Ironman, was the Under 16 New Zealand Ironman champion and co-captained the Junior Black Fins in the International Challenge in 2019.

Now representing the BMD Northcliff Surf Lifesaving Club, Collins said he trained three times a day in a gruelling schedule.

“It’s about 19 sessions a week.”

The week features four swimming sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, two Ironman, two board and three ski sessions along with various running and gym sessions. Sundays he can take a breath.

“You get used to it after a while. When you first come in and figure out what you’re doing it’s pretty intense.”

Collins said the move at such a young age was daunting, but he knew he wanted to follow his dream.

He was living by himself in a house owned by the surf club.

“It was a big change.”

But he said he could rely on his parents for support, dad Mike, Chiefs rugby chief executive and mum, Sarah.

Collins started with the Fitzroy club in New Plymouth and evolved from there.

“It started off just doing for fun and getting some water safety. It grew into racing through the junior competition nationally and I won a race there and figured I could make a job out of it.”

Now competing with renowned athletes, Collins said he wanted to be at the top of his sport.

He looks up to Ali Day, who went undefeated in his first three races.

“To get to his level would be awesome. I definitely have a bit of work to do to get up there.”

While he can’t get home for the New Zealand championships there are plenty of events to complete the busy summer.

Collins will compete in the final three rounds of the Nutri-Grain series this weekend along with the Queensland state competition and Australian Nationals.